DUSHANBE, July 30, Asia-Plus -- Open joint-stock company (OJSC) Tajik Telecom, Tajikistan’s national fixed-line telecommunications provider, is to work out and submit its tariffs to relevant bodies before December 31 this year, Asia-Plus has learned from Khurshed Rajabmahmadov, the head of the main communications and informatization directorate of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC).   

According to him, Transport and Communications Minister Abdurahim Ashourov on July 27 canceled the order 4 “A”.  “The ruling canceling the order does not yet apply to Tajik Telecom, because it is to work out its tariffs before the end of this year,” Rajabmahmadov said, adding that a special commission will be set up one of these days for monitoring and calculation of tariffs.  

“The further fate of Tajik Telecom’s tariffs will depend on resolutions of this commission,” the MoTC official said.   

“When Tajik Telecom works out its tariffs, it will probably make shift to the CPP (calling party pays) model,” Rajabmahmadov said. 

Mamour Qarakhonov, a specialist with Tajik Telecom, confirmed that prices of future services offered by the company will be higher than the present ones (the price of one minute of call from the fixed-line phone to the cellular phone will be approximately 12-14 dirams – Asia-Plus).  

In the meantime, a source at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), who did not want to be disclosed, said in his interview with Asia-Plus that cellular operators had noted that they are ready to provide services to totaling some 20,000 customers on preferential terms in the case if the CPP model is introduced in the country.  

“MEDT jointly with other relevant bodies will strive for lowering the future tariffs,” said the source, “We will probably be able to reach compromise with cellular operators on setting acceptable tariffs for the population.”